Sensors printed directly onto human skin without heat

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An international team of researchers has taken the evolution of wearable electronics further by printing sensors directly on human skin without the use of heat. 

skin
With a novel layer to help the metallic components of the sensor bond, an international team of researchers printed sensors directly on human skin (Image: Ling Zhang, Penn State/Cheng Lab and Harbin Institute of Technology)

The team, led by by Huanyu "Larry" Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Professor in the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, published their results in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

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"In this article, we report a simple yet universally applicable fabrication technique with the use of a novel sintering aid layer to enable direct printing for on-body sensors," said first author Ling Zhang, a researcher in the Harbin Institute of Technology, China and Cheng's laboratory.

Cheng and his colleagues previously developed flexible printed circuit boards for use in wearable sensors but printing directly on skin has been hindered by the bonding process for the metallic components in the sensor. The sintering process typically requires temperatures of around 572oF (300oC) to bond the sensor's silver nanoparticles together.

"The skin surface cannot withstand such a high temperature, obviously," Cheng said in a statement. "To get around this limitation, we proposed a sintering aid layer - something that would not hurt the skin and could help the material sinter together at a lower temperature."

By adding a nanoparticle to the mix, the silver particles sinter at a lower temperature of about 212oF (100oC).

"That can be used to print sensors on clothing and paper, which is useful, but it's still higher than we can stand at skin temperature," Cheng said, who noted that about 104oF (40oC) could still burn skin tissue. "We changed the formula of the aid layer, changed the printing material and found that we could sinter at room temperature."

The room temperature sintering aid layer consists of polyvinyl alcohol paste and calcium carbonate. The layer reduces printing surface roughness and allows for an ultrathin layer of metal patterns that can bend and fold while maintaining electromechanical capabilities. When the sensor is printed, the researchers use an air blower to remove the water that is used as a solvent in the ink.

"The outcome is profound," Cheng said. "We don't need to rely on heat to sinter."

Cheng said the sensors are capable of precisely and continuously capturing temperature, humidity, blood oxygen levels and heart performance signals. The researchers also linked the on-body sensors into a network with wireless transmission capabilities to monitor the combination of signals as they progress.

The process is also environmentally friendly, Cheng said. The sensor remains robust in tepid water for a few days, but a hot shower will remove it.

"It could be recycled, since removal doesn't damage the device," Cheng said. "And, importantly, removal doesn't damage the skin, either. That's especially important for people with sensitive skin, like the elderly and babies. The device can be useful without being an extra burden to the person using it or to the environment."

Next, the researchers plan to alter the technology to target specific applications, such as a precise on-body sensor network placed to monitor symptoms associated with COVID-19.